Finding hidden gems jointly is this sort of a treat, and a great way to bring you closer together. I have expended 30 yrs going to Cedar Crucial, Florida with my household, and now that I have a family of my have, I like bringing them there. For a slower tempo of lifetime, there is no area far better in Florida. Study on for anything you will need to prepare a weekend getaway to Cedar Vital.
Since daily life is so a lot less complicated listed here, it can be easy to overlook all the things to do in Cedar Key. Moreover tasty neighborhood dining places, you can expect to discover cultural ordeals that are enriching, moreover plenty of out of doors things to do like fishing, kayaking, and biking.
Hungry? Bounce in excess of to our comprehensive record of the Greatest Cedar Vital Dining places.
All photographs by Dani Meyering
Is Cedar Key truly worth going to?
Let me conserve you some time. If you prefer modern day beach locations with luxurious resorts, fine dining, and nonstop motion, Cedar Key is not for you. As an alternative, look at 1 of these Summer Working day Excursions from Orlando.
On the other hand, if you happen to be wanting to gradual down with your honey and delight in a little bit of Old Florida, then Cedar Critical is for you. This charming island is relatively modest and has a tiny-city feel. Most of the houses on Cedar Vital are holiday vacation properties. You can see loads of households on stilts which will help with hurricane actions. The handful of people that do really dwell on the island complete time are primarily regional business enterprise house owners.
You can generally experience helpful assistance from smiling locals who are satisfied to have readers on the island.
Cedar Vital History plaque
What is far more, this island is teeming with unbelievable Florida wildlife. In the morning your ears will fill with birdsong – including that of ospreys – however the occasional airboat heading out to obtain the day’s seafood bounty can be read as well. At night time a spectacular view of the stars will choose your breath absent.
Critical tip: Because all the organizations are regionally operate, a lot of of them have minimal several hours. Some companies are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, which make for excellent days of the week to take pleasure in some tranquil time. Monday and Tuesday also occur to be the days of the week when the UF Character Coastline Discovery Center is open up for site visitors.
Get all those style buds all set for some down-property cooking. You will not find a single rapid-food joint or countrywide model chain restaurant any where on the island. Every single Cedar Vital cafe is a little business, operate by the locals.
When dining at Cedar Crucial, retain in head that things shift slower below. And hrs are subject to transform. Double-check each restaurant’s site for hrs, and contact in advance too if essential.
Which are the best dining establishments in Cedar Important?
With every single Cedar Key restaurant getting a area small business, there is certainly truly no undesirable choice for eating. Even so, immediately after many years of visits, these are my favorites and the most effective places to eat in Cedar Essential. It is crucial to take note that plant-based eating and those with special dietary requirements may possibly have issue getting ideal options at this tiny city.
83 West
Place: 310 Dock St, Cedar Important, FL 32625 (to start with flooring)
Most effective for: Incredible sights on the h2o, everyday seafood, nightlife
The most iconic developing on the island, at the incredibly edge of Dock Road, is house to two eating places. 83 West is the informal place, excellent for lunch or a super comfortable evening meal. 83 West requires up the initial flooring of the making and has open-air windows for you to sit, sip your chilly consume, and search out above the h2o with an unobstructed watch.
Sunset is tough to conquer as you observe fishing boats appear back again in from the day’s adventures. And if you’re lucky ample you might place some dolphins earning their way by way of the water. Get the Fried Shrimp, Fish Dip, or Redfish – all of which are some of my favored seafood in the overall state of Florida.
83 West Cafe Cedar Crucial
29 North at 83 West
Site: 310 Dock St, Cedar Essential, FL 32625 (second floor)
Best for: Panoramic sights of the Gulf of Mexico, elevated eating, craft cocktails
For a tiny extra romance, head upstairs to 29 North. In this article the menu is elevated and some of the ideal foods in Cedar Essential. The eating room has a wooden vaulted ceiling and flooring-to-ceiling windows that manage panoramic sights of the Gulf of Mexico and neighboring islands. If you adore seafood then just take a appear at the choices from the Raw Bar. My go-to buy is the Bacon-Wrapped Scallop Kabobs and a Garden Salad (which is substantial and fresh new). If you visit when you will find a chill in the air then the Seafood Bisque is a must. You will have to conserve place for Critical Lime Cake.
Steamers
Place: 420 Dock Road, Cedar Critical, FL 32625
Best for: Relaxed food stuff, tropical beverages
The epitome of a seaside town cafe, Steamers is where by to go for everyday food stuff and tropical drinks. This is a preferred spot, working day and evening, thanks to its approachable foods, and primary place in the center of Dock Avenue. This is not the spot for wonderful dining, but you can easily get your fill from a menu that is equivalent pieces total of seafood, but also loads of choices for landlubbers.
Steamers Clam Bar and Grill Cedar Crucial
Examine Far more: Bounce in excess of to our full checklist of the Very best Cedar Important Restaurants.
Things to do in Cedar Key
The most effective factor to do at Cedar Vital? Relax. Our modern life go a lot a lot quicker than they ought to and a take a look at to Cedar Essential is the excellent possibility to gradual down.
It really is also uncomplicated to have A Day Journey to Devil’s Den for Snorkeling and Checking out or a journey to Homosassa Springs Point out Park to see manatees any time of yr.
If you are hunting for items to do in Cedar Key, there is no lack of Previous Florida entertaining.
- go kayaking
- pier fishing
- book a boat tour
- watch nearby art
- hire a golf cart or bicycle
- dine all-around or pub crawl along Dock Avenue
- Cedar Important Condition Park Museum
- Cedar Vital Historic Culture and Museum
- Cemetery Issue Boardwalk and Park
- UF Character Coast Discovery Center
Cemetary Point Boardwalk – Cedar Essential
What is Cedar Essential acknowledged for?
Cedar Vital is 1st and foremost a fishing island. Whether or not you seize a pole and head for one particular of the piers, or if you reserve a constitution, you happen to be sure to have a blessed catch. Additionally, you will be in fantastic business as clammers capture their bounty every day. Cedar Critical is the most significant producer of farm-lifted clams in the condition of Florida!
Tony’s Seafood Restaurant is popular for its award-winning clam chowder. Even however the recipe is New England influenced, numerous locals and guests think about it to be a style of Cedar Important.
There is the major metropolis pier for fishing, positioned on Dock Road, you can’t miss it. This is the most well known place to go fishing. The next most well-known fishing spot is The #4 Bridge Boat Ramp & Fishing Pier which is basically at the entrance to the island. The fish and the views in this article are a lot distinct than from the primary pier on Dock Road.
Other than fishing and clams, this location is identified for its laidback life-style. It is untouched by the typical chain firms that have homogenized so significantly of our good condition. It has a exceptional little-town appeal that I hope usually continues to be.
Currently being a compact island there are no important hotels listed here. Rather, you’ll uncover charming cottages, motels, and plenty of condos and vacation households.
Examine our most loved Cedar Vital Resorts for Romance and Peace. This manual also involves a search at Airbnbs and puppy-pleasant inns in Cedar Important.
Does Cedar Important have a seashore? Where can you swim?
There is actually only one major seashore on Cedar Crucial. The Metropolis Park at the conclude of 2nd Street serves several functions. Below you can expect to uncover a playground, basketball court docket, picnic pavilions, restrooms, and the beach front. Don’t forget, this is a tiny island, so the major beach may perhaps not be as significant as what you have in head.
Nevertheless, there is plenty of sand and a lot of area to established up some chairs and towels for some time at the seaside. This is exactly where you can splash about and swim in the Gulf of Mexico.
Is the drinking water crystal clear at Cedar Critical FL?
Whilst quite a few beach locations on the Gulf of Mexico are acknowledged for the stunning very clear water, such is not the scenario in this article. Cedar Vital is just a several miles absent from the Suwannee River which deposits tons of minerals into the Gulf. This sales opportunities to the water remaining a small murky. It’s even now correctly good for a swim, kayaking, and other outside enjoyment.
Kayaks at Metropolis Seashore Cedar Important
Rent a Golfing Cart or Bicycles
Cedar Important is a walkable island, with almost everything near by. Nonetheless, if you want to see the island in its entirety you can do so by renting a bicycle or golfing cart. In actuality, golfing carts are the picked strategy for getting all over the island – the two by guests and locals.
With a golf cart you can get pleasure from the breeze in your hair as you drive all over the island. I advocate heading out to the airstrip. It may perhaps acquire some time just before you see any smaller planes coming or heading, but the drive to this side of the island is truly worth it. You are going to face beautiful sights and intriguingly colourful homes.
Rental businesses include things like:
Faraway Inn and G Street Cedar Essential
Boat Tours
Exploring the island alone is positive to develop heaps of passionate recollections alongside one another. But there are even much more memories to be built by obtaining on a boat and observing the island from the h2o, as effectively as observing some of the neighboring islands. Getting out on the h2o is a should. You may see heaps of nature’s wonders all around you. You could possibly even see some dolphins!
Can you scallop?
While there is a good deal of boating pleasurable to be experienced, scalloping at Cedar Crucial is not as abundant as close by regions. Scallops expand in grassy areas in shallow water. This island is superior for fishing, clams, and oysters. The Homosassa and Crystal River regions are in which you should head for a scalloping journey.
Discover all there is to know about Scalloping Season from just one of our sister publications, TampaBayParenting.com.
Kayaking
No matter whether you lease a kayak or carry together your individual, kayaking at Cedar Essential is a quite preferred exercise. Because the island is in the Gulf of Mexico, absent from any active sites, it is easy to appreciate a calming kayak journey. There are lots of barrier islands and shallow waters property to a vast wide range of Florida wildlife. 1st issue in the morning or about an hour prior to sunset are fantastic situations to probably catch some glimpses of dolphins in the water.
Well known kayak launch spots:
Looking again at the downtown region of Cedar Important from the airport aspect
Cedar Key State Park Museum
Head out to the quieter section of the island to examine a quaint state park museum and find out about the heritage of Cedar Crucial. The Cedar Key Point out Park Museum is only open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, but it is a emphasize of factors to do in Cedar Key. You can take a look at reveals during the 18 acre grounds before heading inside for a range of exhibits. The reveals are now classic illustrations from the 1950s to 1960s by the University of Florida layout staff, which at the time developed numerous displays for point out parks. This provides a distinctive prospect not only to master about the record of the space, but also to enjoy the outstanding craftsmanship that went into these museum displays.
If you just are not able to get sufficient history then incorporate the Cedar Crucial Historic Society and Museum to your itinerary. This museum is run by passionate locals wanting to maintain the background and support guests learn about this special island. It is only open up a couple of several hours for every day, and shut on Mondays and Tuesdays, so prepare forward.
Make a stop at the nearby Cedar Keyhole Artists Co-op and Gallery too!
Cedar Important National Wildlife Refuge
The Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge was recognized in 1929 by President Herbert Hoover to shield a breeding ground for colonial nesting migratory birds. The Refuge itself encompasses various islands that neighbor Cedar Key. The most recent addition is Atsena Otie Critical which is the closest island to populated Cedar Key. You can see Atsena Otie Key from Dock Avenue and G Road (my favourite avenue to enjoy sunset).
Having a boat tour or hopping into some kayaks will help you to see these guarded islands as shut as doable.
Atsena Otie Essential as witnessed from Cedar Important
Where is Cedar Critical Florida situated?
Cedar Important is fairly considerably from most significant metropolitan areas. Gainesville is the closest big metropolis, which is about 50 miles, or an hour away. This is a legitimate getaway. It is 135 miles north of Tampa, or about 3 hours’ travel away. Orlando is also 135 miles absent.
The drive from Orlando normally takes about 2.5-3 hrs, depending on site visitors and the chosen route. I choose to acquire the scenic route, partly on Condition Highway 40 by means of Ocala to see the horse farms and other Previous Florida natural beauty. Cedar Key is tucked out of the way, but which is element of its attraction, and it’s an pleasant spot to stop by
The nearest significant airports are Tampa and Orlando, there’s a regional airport in nearby Gainesville. There is truly an airstrip on the island where by a lot of little airplane fanatics land. This is a different enjoyable issue to do on the island, just take a rapid vacation about to the island’s “airport” and see the smaller planes that have designed their way to this charming island. The rate of lifetime is a lot slower here, so will not rush anything, and strategy tons of time to just delight in the basic life.
Want to investigate some far more? Check out these 7 “Secret” Florida Islands.